Metallic structure for railway cars



Aug. 21, 1928.

A. E. SMALL METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1922 g s s o 'a-a-a- 6' 6-15] nvenior arias/12a]! Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,818 A. E. SMALL METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 w I 31 34 1 3:9? 7 8 9 I, L 3O 31 2 i 32 a s2 51 i E9810 J/Zy.11 12 32 31 32 32 31 I 433 I: b 0 :;;i 4 J6 17 175 .18

Even/0r rill Zli E Small ziornfy Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR 1Z1. SMALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METALLIC STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

Original application .filed September 8, 1925, Serial No. 55,207, which is a division of application filed October 19, 1922, Serial No. 595,634. Divided and this application filed January My invention relates to the constructionof railway cars and more particularly to metal end structures or walls for railway cars made of one or more metallic plates or panels 6 formed with integral'reinforcing, stiffening and bracing corrugations. However, this device may be incorporated in the construction of car side walls, floors, roots or doors used in connection with railway cars of various types.

It is well known that the end walls of railway cars aremore likely to be broken or otherwise injured than the side walls. This is due to the inertia thrusts and pressures caused by the shifting of the cargoes when the 15 train starts or stops. These thrusts may be local, tending to distort the end in some particular spot, as, for example, when a piece of piping or lumber shifts lengthwise imparting a blow against the end wall of the car; or there may be a general tendency to break out the end wall as a whole or tear it away from the framing. For the purpose, therefore. of greater strength and durability, car ends have been constructed of metal plates corrugated or formed with ribs to impart the desired strength, rigidity and resiliency.

One of the principal objects of my invention isto provide a corrugated or embossed metallic end structure for railway cars in which the corrugations or embossments have a configuration land arrangement that impart .to the structure a maximum capacity for re sisting. cargo thrusts, both local and general static or quiescent, and with sufficient resiliency to prevent permanent distortion due to the thrusts of the loads, with a minimum weight of metal. It is important that structures of this sort should be as light as is possible, consistent with strength and durabi'lity, both for reasons oi economy in manu 3, 1927. Serial No.

In the'drawings: Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a. box car equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a gondola car equipped with my invention. 1

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of a corrugated plate.

Fig. 6 isa topview of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is asection on line9-9 of Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 4 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 88 of Fig.5.

Fig.12 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig 13 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 7--7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate'showing a modified form on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate showing a modified form on line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate on line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged section of a portion of the plate on line 9-9 ofFig. 5.

Like characters of reference designate like parts.

The end wall structure shown in the above figures comprises apanel composed of a corrugated metal plate or plates.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. The corrugated plates 1. 2 and 3 extend across the car from side to side and are formed with integral flanges 4 along the vertical edges which overlap and are secured to the frame members of the side walls 5 of the car by any suitable means.

The top edge of the end wall is secured to a gondola type of car, wherein only one plate 12 is used to form the end panel which extends from side to side of the car and is provided along the vertical edges with flanges 13 which overlap and are secured to the frame members of the side walls 14 by any suitable means. The top edge of the plate is secured to-the top chord 15 by rivets 16, while the lower edge is secured to rivets 17 to the end erably flat so that the configuration is symsill 18.

While the corrugations-are shown pressed outwardly, and in horizontal arrangement, it is understood that the corrugations may be pressed inwardly, or partially inwardly and partially outwardly from the original lane of the plate or the corrugations may be p aced in any position, for instance, vertically or diagona 1y. The plates or panels may be positioned vertically or horizontally and applied to any type of railway car. 4

. Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive show the preferred formwherein the plate 30 is provided with a plurality of major corrugations 31 with preferably fiat apices 36 which are spaced apart distances substantially equal to their respective widths and the parts 33 of the plate between the major corrugations are also prefmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of these major corrugations,'which line is the neutral axis of the section. Such a section is very strong on account of the amount of metal positioned .awa from the neutral axis and is also relativey rigid. These major corrugations 31 are preferably widest and deepest adjacent their middle portion and decrease in width toward their opposite ends, and'the apices change from a flat to an arcuate configuration. The metallic plate is also provided with a plurality of aligned minor corrugations 32 which like between adjacent major corrugations'31 with their inner ends preferably terminating .into the plate adjacent each other and with their outer ends terminating into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major corrugations.

The outer ends of the minor corrugations 31 have arcuate apices and the parts of the plate between these outer ends of the minor corrugations and the outer ends of the major corrugations are also arcuate so that they form across section of sinuous configuration and, furthermore,.the outer ends of the minor and major corrugations are of the same width and v. spaced apart substantially distances equal to their respective widths so that they testers form a contiguous sinuous configuration symmetrical in cross section about a line mldway between the outermost portions of the corrugations, which line is the neutral axis of the steel plates so that when the section modulus of any section (normal to the corrugations) is multiplied by a constant fibre stress the result equals the bending moment of that section for either a load concentrated at the middle of the corrugated part of the plate or for a load equally distributed over the corrugated part of the plate, thus showing that I have not sacrificed any required strength at the ends of the beams to obtain resiliency; in other words, by my construction I obtain a very strong plate which is alsoresilient.

As the major corrugations increase in width and depth toward their middle portion, the minor corrugations decrease in width and depth proportionately so thatthe lengths of the center lines of the metal of all cross sections of the corrugated portion of the plate are equal The major and minor corrugations may be positioned and dimensioned so that the length of the center lines of the metal of a cross section of the major corrugations adjacent their middle (see Fig. 7) is the same as the length of the center line of the metal of a cross section of the major and minorcorrugations adjacent their end portions. (See Fig. 9). Furthermore, the corrugated plate may be so formed that the length of the center line of the metal of any cross section (for instance, as per Feb. 8) is equal to the length of the center line of the metal of any other cross section, that is, between the terminal portions. This is a material manufacturing advantage as it more evenly distributes the draw and stretch of the metal due to pressing while Figs. 13, 14 and 15 show both the major and minor corrugations having flat apices.

The major corrugations are preferably of uniform'width for a short distance adjacent their middle to provide greaterstrength for a greater portion of the plate and also to facilitate the changing of the forming dies when it is desired to increase or'decrease the length of the corrugationsorembossments.

Plates providedwith a plurality of contiguous narrow corrugations possess a c011- siderable amount of elasticity and when struck a blow deflect readily and regain their shape without distortion, whereas a plate provided with wide flat corrugations, though better able to carryquiescent loads, has not the resiliency of the former and is more readily distorted when strucka blow.

It is, therefore, desirable to design a plate that possesses great strength to withstand the sudden impact loads or blows with suflicient resiliency to resist distortion. I

This application is confined to the construction' wherein the minor corrugations are positioned between the major corrugations, while my application Serial No. 595,632, filed Octo er 19, 1922 for corrugated metallic wall elements covers the construction wherein the middle portion of the major corrugation is split intotwo or more minor corrugations.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 55,207, filed September 8, 1925, which is a division of application See rial No. 595,634, filed October 19, 1922.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the p refe red form of the invention, though it is to b understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art;

I claim:

1. A metallic plate having a plurality of major and minor corrugations terminating the planes where said corrugations begin to terminate into the plane of the plate.

2. A metallic plate having a plurality of major and minor corrugations terminating within the plate, said major corrugations decreasing in width and depth from the center toward their ends, said minor corrugations positioned between said major corrugations merging from substantially the center and the plane of the plate, and increasing in depth and width until they merge with said major corrugations to form a contiguous configura tion of uniform cross section.

3. A metallic plate provided with minor corrugations lying between wider corrugations, the length of the center line of the metal of any cross section of the corrugated plate being equal to the length of the center line of the metal of any other cross section;

4. A metallic plate provided with minor corrugations lying between wider and deeper corrugations, the length of the center line of the metal of any cross section of the corrugated plate being equal to the length of the center line of the metal ofany other cross section. V

5. A metallic plate provided with minor corrugations lying between deeper corrugations, the length of the center line of the metal of any cross section of the corrugated plate being equal to the length of the center line of the metal of any other cross section.

6. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations spaced apart intermediate their ends distances equal to their width which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugationswhich increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until said major and minor corrugations adjacent their ends are spaced apart distances equal to their width. W

7 A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations having substantially flat apices which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends and a plurality of minor corrugations lying between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate, said major and minor corrugations being contiguous adjacent their ends and forming a sinuous configuration.

8. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations having substantially flat apices spaced apart adjacent their A centers distances equal to their width which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, and aplurality of minor corrugations lying between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate, until said major and minor corrugations are spaced apart distances equal to their width, said major and minor corrugations being contiguous adjacent their ends and forming a sinuous configuration.

9. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations having substantially flat apices which decrease in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of minor corrugations lying between said major corrugations which increase in depth toward the edges of the plate, said major and minor corrugations being contiguous adjacent their ends and forming a sinuous configuration.

10. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of minor-corrugations lying between said major corrugations which increase in depth toward the edges of the plate.

11. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations symmetricalin cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until they form a cross section. symmetrical about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations.

12-. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in depth toward the edges of the plate until they form a cross section symmetrical about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations 13. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations of constant cross section for a short distance at the center of the plate which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of pairs of minor corrugations lying between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the late.

p 14-. A metallic plate providedwith a plurality of major corrugations of constant cross section for a shortdistance at the center of the plate which decrease in depth toward their ends, and a plurality of pairs of minor corrugations lying between said major corrugations which increase in depth toward the edges of the plate.

15. A. metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, and a pair of aligned minor corrugations positioned substantiallybetween adjacent major corrugations with their inner ends terminating into the plate and with their outer ends terminating into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major corrugations, said minor corrugations increasing in width and in depth toward their outer ends.

16. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in depth toward their ends, and a pair of aligned minor corrugations positioned subtilt 'stantially between adjacent major corrugations with their inner ends terminating into the plate and with their outer ends terminating into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major corrugations, said minor corrugations increasing in depth toward their outer ends.

17. A wall for a railway c'ar comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate pro-' plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations terminate into ,the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members. 18. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured. to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate pro; vided with a plurality of major corrugations spaced apart intermediate their ends distances substantially equal to their maximum width which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends. said plate also provided with a plurality of minorcorrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward. the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are spaced apart distances substantially equal to their width adjacent'said oppositely disposed frame memers.

19. A Wall for a railway'car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate pro-' vided with a plurality of major corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in'width and in depth toward their ends. said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations form a cross section symmetrical about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

20. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members oi the car, said plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends. said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said maior corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed. frame members. the length of the center line of the metal of a cross section of the major corrugations adjacent the middle of the plate being the same as the length of the center line of the metal of a cross section of the major and minor corrugations adjacent the edge of the plate.

21. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of truncated major corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are contiguous and form a sinuous configuration adjacent said oppositely disposed Irame members.

22. In a railway car structure, a metallic plate formed with a plurality of varying depth corrugations, some of said corrugations extending between the opposite edges of the corrugated portion of the plate and other of said corrugations extending from said edges and merging into the plate adjacent the middle of said portion so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the corrugated portion of the plate and a relatively resilient structure adjacent the edges of the corrugated portion of the plate.

23. In a railway car structure, a metallic plate formed with a plurality of varying depth corrugations, some of said corrugations extending between the opposite edges of the corrugated portion of the plate and other of said corrugations extending from said edges and merging into the plate adjacent the mid dle of said portion so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the corrugated portion of the plate which gradually becomes a relatively resilient structure adjacent the edges of the corrugated portion of the plate.

24. In a railway car structure, a metallic plate formed with a plurality of corrugations, some of said corrugations extending between the opposite edges of the corrugated portion of the plate and are relatively deep adjacent their middle portions and other of said corrugations extending from said edges and merg'- ing into the plate adjacent the middle of said portion thus forming a greater number of relatively shallow corrugations adjacent their end portions so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the'corrugated portion of the plate and a relatively resilient structure adjacent the edges of the corrugatedportion of the plate.

25. In a railway car structure, a metallic plate formed with a plurality of corrugations, some of said corrugations extending between the opposite edges of the corrugated portion of the plate and are relatively deep adjacent their middle portions and other of said corrugations extending from said edges and merging into the plate adjacent the mid-- dle of said portion thus forming a greater number of relatively shallow corrugations adjacent their endportions so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent t 1e middle of the corrugated portion of the plate which gradually becomes a relatively resilient structure adjacent the edges of the corrugated portion of the plate;

26. In a railway car structure, a metallic plate formed with a plurality of corrugatio'ns, some of said corrugations extending between the opposite edges of the corrugated portion of the plate and are relatively deep and relatively wider adjacent their middle portions and other of said corrugations extending from said edges and merging into the plate adjacent the middle of said 'portion thus -forming a greater number of relatively shallow and relatively 'narrow corrugations adjacent their end portions so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle ot the corrugated portion of the plate and a relatively resilient structure adjacent the edges of the, corrugated portion of the plate.

27. In a railway ear structure, a metallic plate formed with a plurality of corrugations, some of said corrugations extending between the opposite edges of the corrugated portion of the plate'and are relatively deep and relatively wider adjacent their middle portions and other of said corrugations extending from said edges and merging into the plate adjacent the middle of said ortion thus forming a greater number of re atively shal low and relatively narrow corrugations adjacent their end portions so as to provide a relatively rigid structure adjacent the middle of the corrugated portion of the plate which gradually becomes a relatively resilient struc ture adjacent the edges of the corrugated portion of the plate.

28. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward their outer ends and terminate into the plate substantially in alinement with the major corrugations.

29. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations spaced apart intermediate their ends distances substantially equalto their maximum width which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, said plate alsoprovided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantiallybetween said major corrugations which increase in width and inTlepth toward the edges of the plate until the ma or and minor corru gations are spaced apart distances equal to their width.

30. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations symmetrical in cross section about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations form a cross section symmetrical about a line midway between the outermost portions of the corrugations,

31. 'A metallic plate provided with a plurality of major corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate,

the length of the center line of the metal of a. cross section of the major corrugations adj acent the middle of the plate being the same as the length of the center line of the metal of a cross section of the major and minor corrugations.

32. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of truncated major corrugations which decrease in width and in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in width and in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corru-- gations are contiguous and form a sinuous configuration.

33: A metallic plate provided with a plu rality of major embossments having flat apices with the parts of the plate, between the embossments also substantially fiat, said major embossments decreasing in width and in depth toward their opposite ends, said 1 plate also provided with a plurality of minor depth toward their opposite ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor em bossments lying substantially between the major embossments which terminate into the plate substantially in alignment with the major embossments where the major and minor embossments have arcuate apices and the parts of the plate between the ends of the major and minor embossments are also of arcuate configuration.

35. A structure for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of major embossments having fiat apices with the parts of the plate between the'embossments also substantially flat, said major embossments decreasing in width and in depth toward their opposite ends. said plate also providedwith a plurality of minor embossments lying substantially between the major embossments which increase in width and in depth toward their outer ends and terminate into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed. frame members, where the major and minor embossments have arcuate apices and the parts of the plate between the ends of the major and minor embossments are also of arcuate configuration.

36. A structure fora railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a plurality of major embossments having flat apices, said major embossments decreasing in depth toward their opposite ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor embossments lying substantially between the major embossments which terminate into the plate adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members where the major and minor embossments have arcuate apices and the parts of the plate between the ends of the major and minor embossments are also of arcuate configuration.

37. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car, said plate provided with a pluralityv of truncated major corrugations which decrease in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are contiguous and form a sinuous configuration adjjacent said oppositely disposed frame memers.

38. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of truncated major corrugations which decrease in depth toward their ends, said plate also provided with a plurality of minor corrugations lying substantially between said major corrugations which increase in depth toward the edges of the plate until the major and minor corrugations are contiguous and form a sinuous configuration adjacent said oppositely disposed frame members.

39. A wall for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car provided with a plurality of major corrugations which de- 4 crease in depth toward their ends and which terminate into the plate adjacent said frame members and a pair of aligned-minor corrugations positioned between adjacent major corrugations with their inner ends terminating into the plate and with their outer ends terminatin into the plate in line with the outer ends of the major. corrugations.

40. A wall structure for a railway car comprising a metallic plate secured to oppositely disposed frame members of the car provided with a plurality of varying width and varying depth major corrugations and a pair of aligned varying width and varying depth wall being substantially midway between the frame members.

41. A metallic plate provided with a plurality of varying width and varying depth major corrugations and a pair of alined varying Width and varying depth minor corrugations positioned between adjacent major corrugations, having the upper minor corrugations longer than the lower minor corrugations, the outer ends of the major and minor corrugations terminating within the plate substantially in alinement with each other, the maximum strength of the corrugated wall being adjacent the middle of the major corrugations.

ARTHUR E. SMALL. 

